Automatic orientating and selecting mechanism for fruit pitting machines



Feb. 18, 1941. E. w. CARROLL 2,232,208

AUTOMATIC ORIENTATING AND SELECTING MECHANISM FOR FRUIT FITTING MACHINESOriginal Filed June 1, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 .9 oh\ A w 8 Q 5 5 .519 a1N VEN TOE El wwaRn/WC'APmu BY M AT TOENE YS Feb. 18, 1941. E. w.CARROLL AUTOMATIC ORIENTATING AND SELECTING MECHANISM FOR FRUIT FITTINGMACHINES Original Filed June 1, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 [N w: /v TOR 1.L-SWORTH hid-42201.1.

A7 TOPNEY Feb. 18, 1941. w CARROLL 2,232,208 AUTOMATIC ORIENTATING ANDSELECTING MECHANISM FOR FRUIT FITTING MACHINES Original Filed June 1,1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY Q WQ ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 18, 1941. E. w. CARROLL 2,232,208

AUTOMATIC ORIENTATING AND SELECTING MECHANISM FOR FRUIT FITTING MACHINESOriginal Filed June 1, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 BMQ MN WFI N IN l/EN 1-0/2ELLSWOETH W CARROLL MQ MW A7 TOENE Y8.

Patented Feb. 18, 1941 PATENT OFFICE 2,232,208 AUTOMATIC ORIENTATING ANDSELECTING DIECHANISM FOR CHINES FRUIT FITTING MA- Ellsworth W. Carroll,San Francisco, Calif., as-

signor to S 8:

Fine Foods, Inc., San

Francisco, Calii'., a corporation of California Original applicationJune 1, 1938, Serial No.

211,140. Divided and this application November 13, 1939, Serial No.304,107

10 Claims.

My present invention relates to orientators, and in the presentembodiment more particularly to fruit orientators.

This application is a division of my co-pending application for UnitedStates Letters Patent, Serial No. 211,140, filed June 1, 1938, entitledFull automatic orientator.

When pitting fruit such as peaches, cherries, or the like, by machine ithas heretofore been necessary to orientate the fruit manually.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a full automaticmachine which will take the fruit from a hopper (where the fruit ispoured in haphazardly), orientate the stem indent to a predeterminedposition in relation to the machine and deliver the fruit to a pittingmachine in this same predetermined relative position.

Another object is to provide a machine which will in addition to theabove, inspect the fruit for proper orientation, reject thenon-orientated fruit and deliver the properly orientated fruit as above.

Another object is to provide a machine which will in addition to all theforegoing, orientate the seam which is characteristic of such fruit aspeaches and apricots, inspect the fruit for properly orientated seams,reject the fruit having non-orientated seams and deliver the orientatedfruit to a pitting machine with the seam and stem indent in properposition (relative to the machine) for pitting.

Another object is to provide a machine which will sever the tips fromfruit such as peaches.

Another object is to provide a. hopper which will insure an extremelyslow but absolutely uniform delivery of contents and more especiallywhen the contents are non-"rigid bodies such as fruit.

Another object is to provide an invention which will be equally welladapted to orientating' fruit to a vertical, horizontal, or to any otherposition of the major axis of the fruit, thereby making this inventionpractical for use on any type of pitting machine.

Other objects and advantages will be eviden to those skilled in thisart.

The mechanism to be first described is particularly adapted for use withthat type of pitting machine having a reciprocating feed bar pushing thefruit along a track consisting of two knifelike guideways embedded inthe meat of the fruit, and in which the fruit is held with its majoraxis (that is, a line passing through the blossom end and the stem end)in a horizontal position while removing the pits.

The mechanism shown for severing the tips and. locating the side seamsof such fruit as peaches would obviously be omitted when building amachine to orientate fruit which does not have such characteristics,without departing from the spirit of this invention.

1 will later on describe a mechanism more particularly adapted toorientate fruit to a stem downward position, and to inspect for properorientation in this position.

The changes necessary to the mechanism shown to orientate fruit to anyother relative position are comparatively simple and will be readilyunderstood by those skilled in this art.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be made tothe accompanying drawings, wherein there is shown by way of illustrationand not of limitation, preferred embodiments thereof.

In the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout thevarious views:

Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of this machine with the front wallremoved.

- Fig. 2 shows a top or plan view of this machine, but with the extremeupper superstructure removed.

Fig. 3 is a top or plan view showing those parts which were removed fromFig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical view taken at lines IVIV of Fig. 1,looking in the direction shown by arrows, showing the mechanism ofstation D for orientating the stem indent to a horizontal plane.

Fig. 5 is a. transverse vertical view taken at lines V--V of Fig. 1,looking in the direction shown by arrows, showing the mechanism ofstation E, for orientating the stem indent to the shown position.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical view taken at lines VIP-VI of Fig. 1,looking in the direction shown by arrows, showing the mechanism ofstation G, to inspect for proper orientation.

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical view taken at lines VIIVII of Fig. 1,looking in the direction shown by arrows, showing the mechanism ofstation H, the exit station.

Fig. 8 shows in perspective a unit of three fingers of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 shows the preferred construction for the periphery of rollersmade from material having a smooth or slick surface.

Fig. 10 shows an enlarged view of the ends of seam, l

Fig. 11 shows an alternate construction of the orientating means.

Fig. 12 shows an alternate type of inspection and rejection means.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings l designates generally a housing within which and uponwhich the op-' eratlng parts of the orientating mechanism are mounted.

The housing I0 is secured to and supported by the pitting machine, apart of which is shown at H in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1: Journaled within the pitting machine and extendinginto the orientator is the drive shaft 12, having secured thereon thesprocket i3 which drives the endless chain 64 having attachment links I5which carry the plates I6.

Referring now to Fig. 2: The plates |6-l6 are provided with pivotsl'I-l'l for the tongs I8--l8 whichare biased inwardly by the O- shapedspring l9 and provided with interlocking gear segments 20 to insureuniform centralizing action of the concave faces which contact the fruit2|.

In Fig. 1 the housing [0 is provided with bearings for the shaft 22which carries the sprocket v23 for the return of the chain l4, whichthen passes through the hopper 24 in the dlrection shown by the arrowwhich has an oscillating bottom 25, hinged thereto at 26. Thisoscillating bottom is adjustable for length and secured at the desiredlength by screws 21;

The housing It! is also provided with bearings for the shaft 28 havingsecured thereto the pulley 29, the eccentric 30 and the sprocket 3!, allof which are rotated by the chain l4.

The cylindrical bristle brush 32 is secured to the shaft 3 5 which isjournaled in the housing l0 and driven by the tight pulley 34, which isin turn driven by the belt 35 from the pulley 29. The eccentric 38 isiournaled in the eccentric strap 36 which is pivoted at 31 to the hopperbottom 25, thus oscillating the latter. The hopper 24 is also providedwith a stationary bottom 38.

It is well known to everyone who has attempted to secure a slow anduniform feed of fruit (or other non-rigid bodies) from the bottom of ahopper, that the chief difficulty to be overcome is the fact that afterthe first few fruits or objects have left the hopper, the remainingfruit will be found to have formed an arch over the exit, thus stoppingthe flow. To overcome this objection, the oscillating bottom 25 isprovided to agitate the fruit just enough to prevent these arches beingformed. It is also found necessary to provide a space where a few fruitscan ride the exciting means (the tongs l8 in this case) free of anysuperimposed fruit, this space providing a reserve supply of fruit tofill any empty openings, in case the crowding or superimposed weight atthe extreme bottom of the hopper prevent filling all openings in theexiting means at the extreme bottom point. As the tongs I8 are carriedthrough the hopper 24 they are held open by a stationary cam track39-Fig. 2 (which forces the ends of the segments 20 inwardly, thusseparating the tongs l8), to receive a peach 2l-A in Fig. l, the track39 being secured to the hopper bottom 38, all surplus fruit beingbrushed back by the brush 32 traveling in the direction indicated by thearrow.

In Fig. 1 the vertical shafts 40 are journaled in the housing In andrestrained from vertica movement by the collars 4|, and the pulleys 42affixed thereto. The gear housings 43-44 are journaled on the shafts 40and are free also for axial movements thereon. Within each housing 43-44is a pair of spiral gears (not shown). One of these spiral gears isslidably mounted on the vertical shaft 40 which has a sliding keyway soas to revolve the gear with the shaft 40, but yet permit of a free axialmovement. This first gear meshes with and drives its mate which issecured to the shaft 45, which is journaled in the housings 43 and 44and in the fork 43-A which is a part of the respective housings. Theshaft 45 has fixed thereon the roller 46 which is preferably made ofsponge rubber. Should it be desirable to use some other material,especially a material having a smooth surface, a serrated face isrecommended (such as is shown in Fig. 9).

The housings 43 and 44 are provided with the slidably mounted stems 41and with coiled compression springs 48 which are just strong enough togive the desired pressure on the fruit.

A thin, narrow curved knife is shown at 49, suspended by the upwardlyextended arms 50 and pivoted at 5| to the frame 52 and having outwardlyextending fingers 53 and also provided with comparatively light tensionsprings 54 to bias the two knives 49 again-st the fruit so that when thefruit is revolved by the rollers 46 all protuberances will be cut off.

A plurality of tip cut-ofl knives 49 is preferable, because the radiusof the knives being fixed while the radius of the fruit varies,therefore the shorter the cutting edge of the knife 49 is, the

less noticeable will be the result of this difference which have theupper ends bifurcated and pivoted at 57 to the bifurcated ends of thelever 58, best shown in Fig. 3. The link 59 in Fig. 5 is pivoted at 50to the frame 53 and at 6| to the lever 58, the latter being pivoted at62 to the connecting rod 63, which is pivoted at the lower end at B4 inFig. 5 to the lever 55 which is secured to the shaft 66 which issuitably mounted for oscillation in the brackets 61 of the housing 10.This shaft 56 will be further described later on.

In Fig. 4 the quill 68 is mounted to slide freely on the stem 41 and inthe frame 56, with a collar 69 to halt the downward travel in theposition shown. The quill 63 has a suitable mounting at the lower. endfor a series of radially mounted oscillating fingers which are pivotedat H and provided with a lug l2 fitted to engage the one-half theperiphery of the peach 2| on the horizontal centerline at regularlyspaced intervals, and are preferably arranged in groups of three fingersper unit as follows:

In Fig. 8 the counterweights 14 of the center member of the unit hassecured thereto two electrical contact bars I5, but electricallyinsulated therefrom by the non-conductors 16. The counterweights 14 ofthe two adjacent fingers are equipped with electrical contact points 1'!grounded to the housing Ill. The contact bars are so spaced that mindirregularities in the surface of the fruit will not make a contact withthe points 11, but so that a major relative movement of the fingers 10such as is caused by any one of the three fingers 10' of that unitdropping into the stem indent will establish an electrical circuit. Thebars 15 are provided with electrical conductor-s 18, which are joinedtogether and led to the electro-magnet 19, Fig. 4, which has a conductor80 which connects with any suitable source of electricity, which sourceis also grounded to the housing I in order to complete the circuit. Theconductor 80 is also provided with a switch (not shown) controlled bythe pitting machine II for interrupting the current while the chain I4is being advanced, as will be de scribed later.

Referring to Fig. 4, the link 8I suitably connecting the two housings43-44 through the medium of the lever 82, which is pivoted at 83 on thebracket 84 of the housing III, with a slot 85 sliding on the pin 86,which is secured to the fork 43A, forms an equalizing gear, which iscommon to each pair of the gear housings 4344. The lever '81 is securedto the shaft 66 and bifurcated at the opposite end so as to engage thecollar 88, and thus provide means for separatingthe housings 43 and 44as the lever 81 is moved downward. Fig. 1 shows the electromagnet 19having suitable brackets 89 arid being Y attached to and supported bythe housing I0.

' clutch member 94 is provided with a cone clutch face at 96 whichengages a mating clutch face secured to the pulley 97 which is journaledin the bracket 98 extending from the housing I0. The upper end of thesliding member 94 forms a conical brake 99 with the mating membersecured to the hlousing III. The sliding clutch member 94 is held inclutch driving engagement by gravity as long as the electro-magnet 19 isnot energized. i

In Fig. the hollow conicalcup I00 is secured to the stem IIJI,;which isslidably journaled in the frame 56 and; connected with a thrust bearingat I 02 to the upper end of connecting rod I93 which is pivoted to theequalizing lever I04, which is pivoted to the link I06 which is pivotedat I61 to the bracket 98 of the housing I0. The opposite end of theequalizing bar I04 is bifurcated and pivoted to the thrust collar I08which is journaled between the flanges I09 which are fixed to the shaft95, :the above mechanism forming an equalizing gear to move the cup I00and the cup Iiii in opposite directions simultaneously. These cups I00and IIO arebiased toward each other by the spring II I and separatedwhile changing fruits by the lever II2 which'is fixed onithe shaft 66and bifurcated at the opposite Bl'idgtO properly engage the fiange I99.These cupsi I96 and H9 are preferably made with a conical included angleof 90 and to properly hold the fruit when biased together by the springIII and with the lever IE2 in the shown position. I

In Fig. 2 the roller H3 is journaled at the end of the lever IItl whichis pivoted on the stud H5 which is supported by the housing III to whichit is affixed. The lever H4 is biased toward the peach with a:comparatively heavy spring II6 mounted in the spring seat In which is aprojection of the housing I0, and has secured to itself near thepivotedIend II5 a comparatively light leaf spring II8 biased away fromthe lever II4, having an electrical contact point H9, which is groundedto the housing I0, and terminates in the fork I20 which rides the peachlightly. The lever II4 has an insulated adjustable electrical contactpoint I2I so mounted that when the peach 2| which is held and revolvedby the cups I00 and H0 has been turned to that position at which theroller II3 enters the stem indent, an electrical circuit is completedthrough the electrical conductor I22 which leads to the electro-magnetI23 in Fig. l, which is connected to any suitable source of electricalenergy (not shown) which is also grounded to the housing I0, to completethe circuit.

The foregoing mechanism is so constructed that the contact points areseparated by the light spring tension of the leaf spring H8 at all-timesexcept when the roller II3 enters the stem indent, at which time thespring II6 overcomes .the comparatively light spring II 8, thus forcingthe contact points H9 and I2I together. The circuit thus completedenergizes the electromagnet I23 which lifts the armature 90 whichdisconnects the clutch and instantly sets the brake as has beenpreviously described, and thus stops the peach with the stem indent inthe predetermined position. I

In Fig. l the peach I24 is shown in a section taken on'the lines XI-XIof Fig. 2 and is held and revolved between and by the rollers I25, whichare mounted with the housings 43-44 and shaft 40, and equipped with theequalizing gear as before described, as well as with an electro-magnetoperated clutch and brake mechanism such as was previously described at96 and 99 of Fig. 5. In Fig. 1 the levers I26 and I21 are freely pivotedto the housing 44 at I28 and held in contact with the peach by gravity.The lever I21 carries the grounded to housing I0 contact point I29 andterminates in a disc with a comparatively large radius best shown inFig. which also shows the comparativelysmall radius of the finger I26.The finger I26, Fig. 1, carries the insulated adjustable contact pointI30 connected to the electro-magnet I3I by the electric wire I32. Thesepoints I29 and I30 are adjusted so that they will make contact only whena sharp seam similar to the seam I33 in the peach I24 in Fig. 10 permitsthe small radius of lever I26, Fig. 10, to overrun the larger radius oflever I21. Thus occasional fiat spots or bruises from handling areprevented from operating the stopping and braking mechanism, thisstopping and braking mechanism. being similar to that which has beenpreviously described in Fig. 5, parts No. I9, 96 and 99.

This seam detecting mechanism can be made still more selective byelongating the axial length of the seam entering short radius of thelever I26.

In Fig. 6, which shows the inspection station, the shaft 66 has aflixedthereto the lever I 34 pivoted to the connecting rod I35 which passesfreely through a slot in the bellcrank I36 and terminates in a flangeI31 which will not pass through this slot. The bellcrank I36 is pivotedat I39 to the lug of the housing I0 and has a pivot 639 to support thelever I40 and terminates in a semi-annular seat I4I to fit the base ofthe average sized fruit when the fruit is being held in the tongs I8.The top of lever I40 is bent and passes through the center of the seatI4I, while the lower end is pivoted to the connecting rod I42 which ispivoted to the bellcrank I43 which is pivoted on the lug extension ofthe housing I0, while the opposite end is pivoted to the upright spacingbar I44.

The spacing bar I44 is provided with a counterweight to bias the top ofthe bar I44 toward the left in Fig. 6. The tongs operating bar I 45 mustslide from the position shown, to the left, approximately against thewall of the housing I and back again, this lateral motion being derived,through suitable means (not shown) from the pitting machine II.

This bar I45 is so adjusted that when in the position shown in Fig. 2,it will engage the ends of the gear segments 20 and open the tongs I8 atall operating stations except station G in Fig. 2, which is shown intransverse section in Fig. 6. This exception at station G isaccomplished by notching the bar I45 as at I46 to a depth greater thanthe travel required by the segments 20 to fully open the tongs IS. Thetop of the spacing bar I44 in Fig. 6 is of the same dimensions as, andregisters with, the notch I46, so that when the bar I44 is raised whilethe bar I45 is in the leftward position, into the notch I46, a movementof the bar I45 to the rightward position will open the tongs at stationG the same as at the other stations.

In Fig. 6 a downward movement of the lever I34 pulls the top of thebellcrank I36 away from the fruit I48 which is necessary when changingfruits, and the return stroke with its over travel permits the seat I4Ito be biased by the counterweight I 41 to contact the peach I46regardless of the size of the latter. When the peach I48 is properlyorientated the top or bent end of the lever I40 will enter the stemindent and position the spacing bar I44 as shown. However, should thepeach I48 be improperly orientated; that is, having the stem indent inany other relative position, the lever I 40 will be forced to the rightin Fig. 6 relative to seat I4I, which will raise the bar I44 to resultin opening the tongs I8, as previously described, thus dropping thepeach I48 into the reject discharge chute I49 which is secured to thehousing I0.

Fig. '7 shows a transverse sectional view of the transfer station wherethe properly orientated fruit is fed to the pitting machine II, only afragmentary section of which is shown, having the stationary opposedknifelike guideways I50 to guide and support the fruit.

The orientator has a short section of similar but separable guideways IIregistering when advanced, with the stationary guideways I50. Theguideways I5I are secured to the stems I52 which are slidably mounted inthe housing I 0 and frame 56, and positively opened and closed by thelinks I53 and I54, which are pivoted to the double bellcrank I55 whichis secured to the shaft 66 and actuated by the connecting rod I56leading to the pitting machine II by which it is actuated.

Fig. 2 shows a push bar I51 supported and actuated by the pittingmachine II. In Fig. 1 the pulleys 42 and 91 which drive the fruitrevolving mechanisms are driven by a belt I58 which is interwovenbetween the various pulleys in order to drive each, and then passing toand back from the pitting machine II, by which it is driven (see alsoFig. 2).

The pitting machine II of necessity has a cam shaft (not shown) tooperate and synchronize the pitting mechanism, and inasmuch as theorientating must also be synchronized in step with the pitting, it is inthe interests of convenience, accuracy of synchronization and economy touse this pre-existing cam shaft to operate and synchronize theorientating mechanisms.

The functions to be thus operated and synchronized are, first, theendless chain I4 (Fig, 1) opening the tongs I8, raising and lowering therevolving rollers 46 and I25, the cups IOU-H0 and the guideways I5I.Also retracting the inspecting levers I40-I4I, as well as raising andlowering the frame 52, which carries the tip cutoff knives 49 and thefingers at station D; all of which must be advanced or operatedintermittently as previously described.

Operation After a particular peach finally reaches the extreme bottom ofthe hopper 24, or the free space between the hopper and the tongs, itwill drop into the opening between the tongs I8 which are being forcedopen by cam 39, and be carried forward step by step until it reaches thestation A, where due to the termination of the cam 39, the tongs I8 willgrip the peach, due to pressure of the spring I9, Fig. 2.

The tongs I8 still gripping the peach 2I will on the next cycle carry itforward to the tip removing station at B, where the peach 2| is clampedbetween the two rollers 46 of Fig. l, which are not revolving at thistime. Instantly, upon the completion of the chain I4 advance, fiveobjects are completed simultaneously. Firstly, the tip cut-olT knives 49and the fingers I0 which are all carried by the frame 52 are lowered toposition as shown in Fig. 1. Secondly, the rollers 46 and I25 and thecups I00-I I 0 are advanced to contact and hold and later to revolvetheir respective fruits, being biased thereto by the springs 48 and III.Thirdiy, the inspection levers I40-I4I are biased to operating positionby the counterweight I41. The object of providing a flexible means forbringing the rollers and inspection levers into contact with the fruitis, first to prevent bruising the fruit, and second to accommodate thevariations in both size and profile. Fourthly, the retractable guidewaysI5I are brought into a positive operating engagement with the fruit, theentering edge of the guideways I 5I being sharpened to cut into thefruit as shown in Fig. 7, all the four preceding objects beingcontrolled by the pitting machine II through the rod I56 of Fig. 7, andthe shaft 66 as previously described. Fifthly, the source of electricalenergy for operating the electro-magnets is restored by the pittingmachine II (not shown).

As previously described, the relative position of the detecting leverI40 tothe seat I4I will be determined instantly upon contact with thepeach I48, thus setting the space bar I44 in proper position. While thedetecting lever I40 is being brought into contact with the fruit, thetongs operating bar I 45 is retracted so the space bar I44 is free toenter the notch I46. As soon as the foregoing operations are completedthe pitting machine will advance the tongs operating bar I 45, thusopening the tongs so the fruit is free to be revolved, or to drop intothe reject chute I49 if improperly orientated at this station.

Upon completion of the above, the belt I58 is immediately started by thepitting machine II and run far enough to turn each of the revolvingfruit at least one and one-eighth revolutions by means previouslydescribed. However, the fruit .at the orientating stations D, E and F,will be revolved only until the stem indent or seam registers with thedetecting means, which will instantly stop the revolution of the fruitas previously described. The tip-cut-off knives 48 should be set at acutting angle that will not pare the peach but which will remove aprotuberance such as the tip. With two knives 4.8, as shown in Fig. 2,each of which encircle slightly more than 45 of the periphery of thefruit, it is obvious that a full revolution of the fruit will subjectthe tip to the cutting action of either one knife 49 or the other,providing the tip lies within an arc of from 45 to 90 of a transversehorizontal axis.

See Fig. 2-station B. However, should the tip be positioned between and45 from the horizontal transverse axis, and so as not to fall in theplane covered by the knives at station B, the knives at station C willsever the tip in the next cycle, because they are set at 90 from thoseat station B, the rollers 46 at station C being also turned 90 in orderto revolve the fruit accordingly.

Operation of the belt I58 will simultaneously sever the tip andorientate both the stem indent and the seam. At the same time leversI4I-I42 will inspect for proper orientation and the pitting machine I Iwill operate the push bar I51 to transfer the peach to the pittingmachine and return the push bar I51 to the shown position in Fig. '7,all the foregoing while the chain I 4 is at rest, and in accordance withthe previous description.

Upon completion of the foregoing, the pitting machine now operates tostop the belt I58 and to retract the tongs operating bar I45 permittingthe tongs I8 to again grip the fruit, and also to disconnect the sourceof electrical energy from the electro-magnets.

As soon as the fruit is secured by the tongs, the shaft 6 6 is operated,as previously described, to retract all the rollers 46 and I25, the cupsI00- N0, the inspection lever I40, the guideways II, the knives 49 andthe fingers 10. As soon as all these have been retracted to clear thepath of the fruit, the pitting machine advances the chain I4 andconsequently the tongs and fruit one station to the right in Fig. 1,thus completing the cycle, which is now ready to be repeated.

Fig. 11 shows means for orientating fruit to a stem end down position,which is preferable in many instances. This figure shows a fruit I60which has just been orientated by the serrated roller I6 I, which issecured to the shaft I62 which is journaled in a lug (not shown) of thehousing I0, and suitably and intermittently revolved by the pittingmachine II through means not shown. The fruit I60 is shown resting onthe shallow concave, conical face I63 ofthe housing Ill. The relativesize of the roller I6I to the stem indent in particular (and the fruitbeing orientated in a lesser degree) is very important, as is also theface I63 in its relationto the roller WI. The optimum relative size ofthe roller MI is that which is as large as possible (to better revolvethe fruit) yet small enough to project into the concave seat 1163 farenough to revolve the fruit at all times when. the stem indent is in anyother relative position than down, as shown by the heavy lines I50. Whenthe fruit is in this position the roller I6I must also be small enoughto clear the stem indent, so that when a fruit is carried to theorientating station with the stem indent in some other position thandown (such as shown by the broken line I64), by the tongs I8 while beingclamped about the fruit as previously described, and while the rollerI6I is stationary, the tongs I8 will then be opened far enough to permitthe fruit to revolve, yet close enough to form a guide to retain thefruit directly over the roller I6I, which is then revolved in eitherdirection and with it the fruit, until the latter has reached theposition shown at I60 where the roller I6I will continue to turn, butthe fruit will stop, as it is now supported by the face I63 and theroller I6I is turning freely in the indent.

In actual practice it has been found that the proportions shown in Fig.11 are very satisfactory and that the fruit revolves so erratically thatit is invariably properly orientated to a stem down position before thefruit has made five revolutions.

After the roller I6I has completed a predeterminednumber of revolutionsthe roller is stopped, the tongs then close about the fruit I60 and areraised to clear the fruit from the seat I63 and the tongs are carried bythe chain I4 as previously described to the next station and the cyclerepeated.

Fig. 12 shows means to inspect the fruit for proper orientation (andreject all that is not properly orientated) in a stem downward position.In this design the frame I0 is provided with a lug I66'having a pivotI61 for the balance lever I66 which terminates at one end in thecounterweight I69 which must be lighter than the fruit,

and at the opposite end in an annular seat I to support the fruit I1I.An inspecting finger I12 is pivoted at I13 to the lever I68 and providedwith a counterweight I14 which also serves as a latch and is fitted tocatch on the pin I15 which is secured to and projects from the lug I66.

In operation the tongs I8 are provided with means (not shown) for avertical movement sumcient to lower the fruit I1I into the seat I10before the ton-gs I8 are opened. The finger I12 is so fitted thatimproper orientation of the fruit I1I will raise latch I14 from the pinI15 so that the improperly orientated fruit will be spilled off the seatI10, which will then be returned to the shown position by thecounterweight I69.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a machine which while fullyautomatic, will orientate and pit fruits along a definite andpredetermined axis, and thus mechanically perform operations heretoforeonly possible by slow, tedious manual work.

Furthermore, the uniformity of output is eve better than with manualpitting and the production is high compared to prior methods oforientated pitting. It will also be obvious that uniform pitting along adefinite axis insures a quality of output which will bring high priceswith the best eye value.

While I have seen fit to describe my invention as applied to peaches andin a'preferred form, equivalent means will of course be apparent tothose skilled in the art or through the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fruit position inspector comprising, in combination, a frame, abalance lever pivoted on said frame, a fruit receptacle at one end ofsaid lever, a lever lock, and trigger means movable by contact with afruit in said receptacle unlocking said lever only when said fruit isplaced in said receptacle with the stem indent thereof in other than apredetermined position.

2. A fruit position inspector comprising in combination a frame, a leverpivoted on said frame, a horizontal fruit receptacle at one end of saidlever, a lever lock, and trigger means movable by contact with a fruitin said receptacle unlocking said lever only when said fruit is placedin said receptacle with the stem indent thereof in other than apredetermined position.

3'. A fruit position inspector comprising, in combination, a frame, abalance lever pivoted on said frame, a fruit receptacle at one end ofsaid lever, a counter weight on the other endof said lever, a locknormally holding said lever in a horizontal position, means fordepositing a fruit in said receptacle, and trigger means movable bycontact with a fruit in said receptacle for unlocking said lever tospill said fruit from said receptacle when said fruit is in other than apredetermined position.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein the counterwelghtisheavier than said receptacle and lighter than fruit deposited in saidreceptacle.

5. A fruit position inspector comprising, in combination, a frame, abalance lever pivoted on said frame, a fruit receptacle at one end ofsaid lever, an inspecting finger pivoted on the receptacle arm of saidlever and having one end thereof projecting into said receptacle, theother end normally bearing against said frame to support said receptaclein a substantially horizontal plane, said finger being movable bycontact with said fruit to remove support by said frame, therebyspilling said iruit.

6. A fruit position inspector comprising in combination, a frame, abalance lever pivoted on said frame, a fruit receptacle at one end ofsaid lever, an inspecting finger pivoted on the recep tacle arm of saidlever and having one end thereof projecting into said receptacle, theother end normally bearing against said frame to support said receptaclein a substantially horizontal plane, said finger being movable bycontact with said fruit to remove support by said frame, therebyspilling said fruit, and a counterweight on said lever to return saidreceptacle to a horizontal plane and re-establish support by said frame.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein the end of said fingerentering said receptacle enters Just sufficiently far to avoid contactwith said fruit when the stem indent 01 said fruit is substantiallypresented to said finger end.

8. In combination, a fruit support comprising a receptacle, and meansactuated in accordance with the position of the stem indent of saidfruit when on said support, for controlling the supporting ability ofsaid support, fruit rotating means operating to orientate a fruit, meansfor depositing the fruit operated on in said receptacle, separatechannels for removal of dumped and supported fruit, and means forpitting said supported fruit after said removal.

9. In a fruit orientating machine the combination of fruit rotatingmeans operating to properly orientate a major percentage of fruit fedthereto, and means operating in timely relation with said fruit rotatingmeans and governed by the position of the stem indent of said fruit forautomatically segregating fruit run through the machine to separate theorientated fruit from that not properly orientated.

10. In a fruit orientating machine the combination of fruit rotatingmeans operating to properly orientate a major percentage of fruit fedthereto, means operating in timely relation with said fruit rotatingmeans and governed by the position of the stem indent of said fruit forautomatically segregating fruit run through the machine to separate theorientated fruit from that not properly orientated, and means for pit-EILSWORTH W. CARROLL.

